Megadeth is a thrash metal band formed in 1983, after Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine was kicked from the band for his hard drug abuse and alcohol problems, as he wanted to be more famous, and play better, harder music. Mustaine formed Megadeth with bassist David Ellefson, and has gone through many band members, with only the original 2 members remaining thoughout the band's life, until 2002, when Ellefson left due to personal disagreements with Mustaine. Megadeth have released 17 albums (11 studio, 6 live), along with 30 singles, 2 EPs, 32 music videos and 3 compilations.

Megadeth rose to fame during the 1980s, as a pioneer of the the thrash metal movement, and has been widely regarded as one of the "Big Four of Thrash", alongside their main competitor, Metallica, as well as Slayer and Anthrax.

The band's first album was "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!", released in 1985, followed by their second album, "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" 2 years later, in 1987. "So Far, So Good... So What!" was released in 1988, "Rust In Peace" in 1990, "Countdown To Extinction" in 1992, "Youthanasia" in 1994, "Cryptic Writings" in 1997, "Risk" in 1999, "The World Needs A Hero" in 2001, "Still Alive... And Well?" in 2002, "The System Has Failed" in 2004, and "United Abominations" in 2007.

The band broke up during 2002, after Mustaine received a serious nerve injury in his left arm. He began to play guitar again after 4 months of physical therapy 5 days a week, having to basically re-teach his left hand.

The original line up was Mustaine (guitar, vocals), Ellefson(bass), Greg Handevidt (guitar) and Dijon Carruthers (drums).

Not even Metallica? (I know that's a bad word here if it gets discussed too long)

Where do you live?

I live in Australia, I can't remember if any of the big four have toured here recently but if they have, I know that I wouldn't have been able to go alone and none of my family are into metal.... I know that metallica will probably come here next year so hopefully I'll get to see them, but I don't know when megadeth will come here, seeing them would be awesome.

I still don't understand why everybody sucks up to Dave Mustaine so much.

He's an awesome guitarist, and although he has a very short temper, he's actually a really cool guy. Check out some of his interviews. And he started, or is starting, a music school somewhere, so kids can learn to play. He's done lots of stuff just because he can.

I still don't understand why everybody sucks up to Dave Mustaine so much.

Most people think of him as an arrogant prick after what happened with Metallica, and yeah, he has his moments, like when people shine lasers in his face and sound problems fuck everything to the point where he lobs his guitar off stage, but in reality, he's not that bad a guy. If you're nice to him, he's nice back.

On a side note, on Friday, my friend told me a story about his brother going to see a Megadeth concert in Nottingham (or something) about a decade ago. He didn't know exactly where to go, so he tapped a guy on the shoulder to ask him where to go. Turns out he tapped Mustaine on the shoulder and he was kinda starstruck. The conversation kinda went:

"Excuse me, do you know whe- oh my god you're Dave Mustaine. Uh, where are you playing tonight?"

If Dave Mustaine acts like a dick, he has good reason too. Ever since he was kicked out of Metallica, there have been people who've said that he wasn't good enough for them, or that Kirk Hammett is a much better guitarist (I don't agree with either point, Kirk and Dave each have their own styles, so comparing them is stupid) So he's had nearly 30 years of putting up with people trying to put him down, that's enough to piss anyone off.

Most people think of him as an arrogant prick after what happened with Metallica, and yeah, he has his moments, like when people shine lasers in his face and sound problems fuck everything to the point where he lobs his guitar off stage, but in reality, he's not that bad a guy. If you're nice to him, he's nice back.

On a side note, on Friday, my friend told me a story about his brother going to see a Megadeth concert in Nottingham (or something) about a decade ago. He didn't know exactly where to go, so he tapped a guy on the shoulder to ask him where to go. Turns out he tapped Mustaine on the shoulder and he was kinda starstruck. The conversation kinda went:

"Excuse me, do you know whe- oh my god you're Dave Mustaine. Uh, where are you playing tonight?"

And yeah, people look down on Dave's personality because he had bad relations with the members of Metallica. He beat the drummer up, I think. They kicked him out before they released their first album.

And yeah, people look down on Dave's personality because he had bad relations with the members of Metallica. He beat the drummer up, I think. They kicked him out before they released their first album.

But if you don't be a prick to him he won't be a prick to you.

He didn't beat Lars up, he was just a bigger drinker than the rest of the band and it led to a couple of fights with other members, he caused Ron McGovney to quit by short-circuiting his bass with a can of beer. They arrived in NY to record the first album, played a few shows with him then kicked him out and hired Kirk. At least that's what I've read.

I really want to know whose skull they used for the original Killing is my Business cover. Who was the real Vic Rattlehead?

Wikipedia has the answer.

The album's artwork, featuring a plastic skull with tinfoil, was not intended to be the original artwork. Mustaine wanted a picture of Megadeth mascot Vic Rattlehead on the cover, however the studio lost the artwork, so they improvised the low-budget replacement